A strict energy saving plan, which includes restrictions on the circulation of vehicles, will come into effect next Monday and will be severe due to the catastrophic situation caused worldwide by the increase in the price of petroleum, as announced yesterday by the National Commission on Energy. A report in Diario Libre says that the plan includes the regulation of vehicular circulation, both public and private, according to license plate numbers. Wednesdays, circulation will be limited to vehicles ending in even numbers whereas Thursdays it will be limited to those ending in odd numbers. Several days ago it was announced that public “concho” cars would be working inter-daily. Details of vehicles excluded from this measure and other information will be informed on Monday during a press conference. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Francisco Javier Catillo, said that some vehicles, such as buses, will be excluded. El Caribe reports that President Leonel Fernandez will meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Jamaica next week to discuss the application of the Petro-Caribbean agreement and within a month with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, with the intention of finding a solution to the fuel crisis. Javier Castillo informed that the circulation restriction according to the number of the vehicle’s license plate is applicable to all types of vehicles and exceptions will be announced on Monday. It is meant to save fuel and foreign exchange. Listin Diario reports that the institutions that will be responsible for the application of the new regulation will be disclosed on Monday. Javier Castillo spoke in the company of the Executive Director of the National Energy Commission, Ruben Montas, and the government spokesman, Roberto Rodriguez Marchena. He warned that authorities will close down gas stations that incur in dishonest or discriminatory practices to speculate with fuel. He also said that the crisis in the US in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will cause the prices of petroleum derivates to reach historic heights in the DR.